Hazards resulting from climate change jeopardize human in one way or another. Annually countless deaths, physical injuries, and the collapse of houses, among other consequences, are reported as negative effects associated to climate change events. There is no doubt that these effects are followed by mental health problems which requires the continuation of care after the emergency situation. This paper aimed at highlighting how climate change hazards in Rwanda might be followed by unidentified mental health illness, and proposed a model for proper management. The authors reviewed different literatures to inform their views about the issue and appreciate the efforts being done by the Government to manage immediate mental health problems resulting from climate change hazards for the victims. The authors suggested the need for the continuation of mental health care services after an emergency and that these services be provided by Community Health Workers who live day to day with victims. This will benefit not only the victims but also other people who might be having mental health issues within the community. The Authors recommend further research to document the impact of climate change on mental health and magnitude of the problem in Rwanda.
BackgroundProper healthcare waste management is crucial to minimize the exposure of health professionals, patients, and the public in general, and to reduce the pollution of the environment in particular.In Rwanda, scientific documents on occupational health risks resulting from medical waste management practices among healthcare workers are currently rare.
AimThis study aimed to explore occupational health risks associated with medical waste management practices among health professionals in the Rwandan context. Method A cross-sectional study design was used. The study used both quantitative and qualitative methods. The respondents were composed of health professionals (medical doctors, nurses, and paramedical staff) from the district hospital and six key informants. We used questionnaire, interview guide, and observation checklists as research instruments. We performed descriptive statistics to analyze the quantitative data. Also, qualitative data were analyzed using narrative analysis method.
ResultsThe findings revealed that 56.5 % of respondents from Kibagabaga hospital, 26.8% from Masaka and 49.3% from Muhima Hospital reported that they experienced occupational health risks related to inadequate medical waste management at their workplaces, and some of those risks include risk of infection and physical injuries.
ConclusionThis study concludes that health professionals working in health facilities in Rwanda are exposed to the risks resulting from poor medical waste management practices. Thus, the study recommends putting more emphasis on raising awareness of staff towards risks resulting from poor medical waste management practices.
A novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV), is a new public health issue that is threatening the entire world. The first cases were detected in China by the end of 2019 and spread worldwide rapidly. A significant number of hospitalization and deaths have been recorded globally. So far, Public health measures, including staying at home, are the only available efficient control measures that help to stop the spread of the disease. This paper aims to document how the stay home measure was implemented and highlight its effects on the prevention of the spread of the disease in Rwanda and Kenya. The selection of Kenya and Rwanda was based on the fact that authors able to access the daily report from these countries. The authors reviewed the available literature to inform their views. In Rwanda, the stay-home strategy was strictly enforced, and movements were highly restricted, while in Kenya, movements were allowed in some counties with respect to preventive measures in place. The authors of this paper conclude that the stay home measure is a key measure to the containment of the spread of the outbreak. The paper recommends further studies to document the statistical association between the mode of implementation of the stay home measure and the decrease of new cases of 2019-nCoV.
Rwanda J Med Health Sci 2020;3(3):362-371
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